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News > Thais eye growth
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Helen Jacobs February 22, 10:25am
Products made of natural materials and educational toys have the highest growth potential due to a rise in demand in the international market, according to Duangjai Koosrivinij, the association's president (pictured).
Major markets including Europe are paying greater attention to wooden toys, especially educational items. The value of toy exports stood at $210.14 million last year, with major export markets being the US, Japan, UK and the EU, according to the Export Promotion Department.
Duangjai said: “If we are able to improve our products to meet their requirements, our export sales will surely increase. This is because Thai toys are cheaper and meet the same quality standards as European products, making them a significant choice among international buyers.'
''Having talked with many local toy manufacturers and exporters, we are quite confident that the export value of Thai toys this year will grow around five per cent from last year provided that the baht does not strengthen much further from the present.''
Thai exports have been hindered by negative factors over the past two years, particularly the Baht's appreciation and the slowdown of the US market. However, the Thai toy industry has gained from the recalls of Chinese-made toys by major US traders since July last year.
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